Although Andy Schleck seems far off his top form, RadioShack Nissan team-mate Hayden Roulston has said that he is convinced the Luxembourg rider will be in perfect condition when it counts, and that his rivals risk running out of steam in the Tour.
“Andy is improving every day and not stressed about his results, knowing that when the Dauphiné finishes there is still one full month till the mountains start in the Tour,” he stated in his online blog. “The guys flying now won’t be flying in the Tour in the last week, it’s too hard to hold form for that long.”
Cadel Evans showed last year that he was able to excel in both races, finishing second in the Dauphiné and then going on to win the Tour. While he was capable of sustaining his form, it has been noted in the past that others who have performed at the top level in the Dauphiné have then been below that standard in the Tour itself, including recent past winners Levi Leipheimer, Christophe Moreau, Alejandro Valverde and Janez Brajkovic.
Bradley Wiggins, who won the race last year, never got to see how his form would hold up as he crashed out of the Tour de France. He’s in the leader’s jersey heading into today’s time trial and, providing he stays out of trouble in the Tour, will know in a few weeks if the double was a viable target or too much to take on.
Roulston plays down suggestions that morale is bad on the RadioShack team, despite recent disagreements between Andy Schleck plus his brother Frank, and team manager Johan Bruyneel. He says the extent of the issues have been overblown and that there is harmony in place.
“There’s been a lot of stuff in the media these days about the team. Don’t believe everything you read though!” he stated. “The team is in good spirits and everyone gets on great.. Okay, we have had a tough time with injuries, sickness and bad luck this year, but that is just how cycling is sometimes.”
The New Zealand rider is not yet sure whether or not he will ride the Tour, saying that the decision will be made after the Tour de Suisse. However whether or not he is there, he believes that riders like Andy Schleck will be battling for yellow.
“As long as the team improves each day, recovers good from this tour [Critérium du Dauphiné – ed.] then we will be in with a chance to win the Tour.. I have no doubt at all..”
Schleck has finished on the podium in the past three years, netting second overall in 2009, 2010 and 2011, then being made winner of the 2010 edition when Alberto Contador was disqualified.